State Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redeker plans to decide on a possible takeover of New London County’s public bus company in the near future.

DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick late last week called deliberations for taking control of operations at Southeast Area Transit “a short-term item,” although he didn’t give an exact timetable.

“The decision is going to be quick,” Nursick said Friday. “The commissioner will make the decision, and the decision is going to be sure and decisive.”

Leaders of all nine towns belonging to SEAT signed a petition Nov. 21 asking DOT to assume control of SEAT and accept costs of an environmental cleanup at the bus company’s Preston headquarters. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has assigned blame for a 90,000-gallon diesel fuel spill in 2010 to SEAT and is seeking at least $262,254 to cover cleanup costs.

DEEP has been considering referring the matter to Attorney General George Jepsen for collection. As of last Thursday, it had not done this.

“We are holding off given the possibility that DOT might assume responsibility for SEAT,” DEEP spokesman Dennis Schain wrote in an email. “We are confident that if DOT assumes responsibility for SEAT that we will work our reimbursement matter with them.”

The SEAT board has sent a separate petition to DOT. The elected leaders are seeking an arrangement that includes an advisory board and close collaboration with the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, a group of more than 20 mayors, first selectmen and town managers.

The SEAT board is seeking a more distant relationship with the council, SEAT Chairman Paul Altman has said.

“I’d be happy to see resolution at this point,” Altman said Friday.

As of Friday, DOT had not received either document but Nursick said the department is keep abreast of sentiment regarding SEAT.

Ledyard Mayor John Rodolico said he has attended two group meetings with Redeker regarding SEAT.

“Direct contact with him has helped,” Rodolico said. “Trust me; the DOT is very much involved.”